Callan is a patient suffering from mutism who appears in the last few chapters of the novel Renegeration. Though a minor character, he shows that the experiences soldiers have during war not only pose physical problems but psychological ones as well. He is being treated by Yealland in a manner described as "inhumane" by Rivers - electroshock.Page 226
Callan obviously heard the question but made no response. His eyes flicked from Yealland to Rivers, whom he looked up and down dispassionately. Yealland leant closer to Rivers and murmured, ‘Very negative attitude.’
Callan had broken down in April. He’d been employed behind the lines on transport at the time, perhaps because his nervous state was already giving cause for concern. While feeding the horses, he had suddenly fallen down, and had remained unconscious for a period of five hours. When he came round, he was shaking all over and was unable to speak. He hadn’t spoken at all since then. He attributed his loss of speech to heatstroke.
Analysis
Callan is a character who chooses to isolate himself from the others and refuses to cooperate with Yealland when it comes to treatment, as if he doesn’t want to be cured. He appears insolent and rebellious. The fact that he obviously heard the question shows that he still pays attention and somehow shows that he comprehends but he made no response, showing that he just doesn’t care or doesn’t think it’s worth communicating with Yealland. Callan looked Rivers up and down dispassionately, indicating that he stereotypes psychiatrists, possibly due to his experience and the resulting impression he gets of them – a negative sterotype, as if he’s saying ‘oh, not another one’. Rivers describes Callan as broken. He used to fight but was transferred to working behind the lines because his nervous state concerned others. This illustrates that he’s been emotionally affected by war not so severely that he needed treatment, so he was transferred. He fell down suddenly while feeding horses, which is a strange yet interesting way of breaking down. This was what caused him to become mute, and he blamed it on heatstroke. However, there may be a different reason behind his illness that he doesn’t want to share, therefore he easily attributed it to heatstroke.
Page 229
Callan was brought in. He looked indifferent, or defiant, though once he was settled in the chair his eyes shifted from side to side in a way that suggested fear.
Analysis
When Callan was brought in for treatment, he looked indifferent which suggests that he’s used to it and has gone through it many times before as if it was a routine. He also looked defiant which brings out his rebellious side and the unwillingness to cooperate. However, as soon as he was sat down he started showing signs of uneasiness or fear, indicating that even though he’s been through this many times before, he’s still truly afraid. This leads readers to become curious as to why Callan still chooses to ignore or reject treatment.
Page 230
It took an hour. Rivers during all that time scarcely moved. His empathy with the man in the chair kept him still, since Callan himself never moved, except once to flex the fingers of his strapped hands. At last he nodded. Immediately the electrode was removed, and after a great deal of effort Callan managed to say ‘ah’ in a sort of breathy whisper.
Analysis
It took an hour for Callan to finally give in to the treatment, demonstrating his resilience and strength and determination to resist. However, Rivers was empathising with Callan during treatment, meaning Callan must have been showing a lot of pain or indications of terrible suffering somehow, yet still remaining silent. This again emphasises his strength to resist while proving that he doesn’t want treatment. Readers may think he might not even want to be cured. However he does give up in the end, and nods. It took Callan a great deal of effort to even make a sound, but he still did it, showing how difficult it is for Callan to speak even though he can and will do so if he really must.
Page 238
And yet on the ward, listening to the list of Callan’s battles, he’d felt that nothing Callan could say could have been more powerful than his silence. Later, in the electrical room, as Callan began slowly to repeat the alphabet, walking up and down with Yealland, in and out of the circle of light, Rivers had felt that he was witnessing the silencing of a human being.
Analysis
Rivers reflects on what he witnessed of Callan’s painful treatment, stating that Callan was most powerful when he was silent. This shows the powerful effect of Callan’s silence and may be the reason why he wants to remain silent, because it is only then that he is truly listened to. Rivers says he felt like he was witnessing the silencing of a human being. This is true, as Yealland said so himself “You must speak, but I shall not listen to anything you have to say”. When mute, he is paid attention to. When talking, he won’t be listened to. This highlights the power of Callan’s silence, and therefore the power of himself as a person, and the effect it had on Rivers.
Callan obviously heard the question but made no response. His eyes flicked from Yealland to Rivers, whom he looked up and down dispassionately. Yealland leant closer to Rivers and murmured, ‘Very negative attitude.’
Callan had broken down in April. He’d been employed behind the lines on transport at the time, perhaps because his nervous state was already giving cause for concern. While feeding the horses, he had suddenly fallen down, and had remained unconscious for a period of five hours. When he came round, he was shaking all over and was unable to speak. He hadn’t spoken at all since then. He attributed his loss of speech to heatstroke.
Analysis
Callan is a character who chooses to isolate himself from the others and refuses to cooperate with Yealland when it comes to treatment, as if he doesn’t want to be cured. He appears insolent and rebellious. The fact that he obviously heard the question shows that he still pays attention and somehow shows that he comprehends but he made no response, showing that he just doesn’t care or doesn’t think it’s worth communicating with Yealland. Callan looked Rivers up and down dispassionately, indicating that he stereotypes psychiatrists, possibly due to his experience and the resulting impression he gets of them – a negative sterotype, as if he’s saying ‘oh, not another one’. Rivers describes Callan as broken. He used to fight but was transferred to working behind the lines because his nervous state concerned others. This illustrates that he’s been emotionally affected by war not so severely that he needed treatment, so he was transferred. He fell down suddenly while feeding horses, which is a strange yet interesting way of breaking down. This was what caused him to become mute, and he blamed it on heatstroke. However, there may be a different reason behind his illness that he doesn’t want to share, therefore he easily attributed it to heatstroke.
Page 229
Callan was brought in. He looked indifferent, or defiant, though once he was settled in the chair his eyes shifted from side to side in a way that suggested fear.
Analysis
When Callan was brought in for treatment, he looked indifferent which suggests that he’s used to it and has gone through it many times before as if it was a routine. He also looked defiant which brings out his rebellious side and the unwillingness to cooperate. However, as soon as he was sat down he started showing signs of uneasiness or fear, indicating that even though he’s been through this many times before, he’s still truly afraid. This leads readers to become curious as to why Callan still chooses to ignore or reject treatment.
Page 230
It took an hour. Rivers during all that time scarcely moved. His empathy with the man in the chair kept him still, since Callan himself never moved, except once to flex the fingers of his strapped hands. At last he nodded. Immediately the electrode was removed, and after a great deal of effort Callan managed to say ‘ah’ in a sort of breathy whisper.
Analysis
It took an hour for Callan to finally give in to the treatment, demonstrating his resilience and strength and determination to resist. However, Rivers was empathising with Callan during treatment, meaning Callan must have been showing a lot of pain or indications of terrible suffering somehow, yet still remaining silent. This again emphasises his strength to resist while proving that he doesn’t want treatment. Readers may think he might not even want to be cured. However he does give up in the end, and nods. It took Callan a great deal of effort to even make a sound, but he still did it, showing how difficult it is for Callan to speak even though he can and will do so if he really must.
Page 238
And yet on the ward, listening to the list of Callan’s battles, he’d felt that nothing Callan could say could have been more powerful than his silence. Later, in the electrical room, as Callan began slowly to repeat the alphabet, walking up and down with Yealland, in and out of the circle of light, Rivers had felt that he was witnessing the silencing of a human being.
Analysis
Rivers reflects on what he witnessed of Callan’s painful treatment, stating that Callan was most powerful when he was silent. This shows the powerful effect of Callan’s silence and may be the reason why he wants to remain silent, because it is only then that he is truly listened to. Rivers says he felt like he was witnessing the silencing of a human being. This is true, as Yealland said so himself “You must speak, but I shall not listen to anything you have to say”. When mute, he is paid attention to. When talking, he won’t be listened to. This highlights the power of Callan’s silence, and therefore the power of himself as a person, and the effect it had on Rivers.
What other functions do you think this character has in the novel? Feel free to add any comments or responses :)
By May Doan & Lillian Teoh
